Origin and Habitat: The taxonomic status of this species is uncertain and its exact place of origin unknown (Supposedly from Salta, Argentina).Altitude: Around 2300-2700 metres over sea level.Habitat and Ecology: The origin of this species is unknown and the habitat it grows in is also unknown, very likely it grows in rocky slopes interspersed with grass.

Description:Tunilla picardoi is a ground cover miniature prickly pear very similar to Tunilla erectoclada if not exactly the same. The plants named picardoi seems to have fewer areoles for pads, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical, namely size and form of pads, number, size of spines, colour of flower, etc. It is densely branched, prostrate and forms large clumps or mats. It only grows about 2 pads high (less than 10 cm tall), growth is mostly sideways. Stem segments: about 6 cm long, flattened, narrow, triangular to tongue shaped, light green or blue-green, somewhat tuberculate erect in young growth then creeping.Areoles: Numerous, very closely set (up to 140 per segment) dull creamy white to brown.Spines: 4-7 white needle-like, frail, 4-10 mm long, bent backward and lying next to the surface or spreadingFlowers: Extremely vivid orange to carmine red. Pericarpels elongate, tuberculate, bristly. Fruit: Fleshy but thin walled splitting open laterally at mat. Taxonomic notes:Tunilla picardoi is very similar to Tunilla erectoclada if not exactly the same. Tunilla erectoclada is recognized as a provisional taxon by Hunt et al. (2006). Expert R. Kiesling (pers. comm. 2012) does not recognize it as a good species but as part of Tunilla corrugata and argues that T. erectoclada was described from cultivated plants and its origin is unknown and it holds the characters of T. corrugata.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Tunilla erectoclada group

Cultivation and Propagation: Tunilla picardoi is a low maintenance groundcover plant that tolerate considerable neglect and will naturalize, it is drought-tolerant. Growing rate: It is relatively fast-growing species; in cultivation with generous irrigation it sprawls to form large low mounds in only a few years. It is suitable for hanging baskets too.Soils: Easy to cultivate outdoor in dry, sandy or gravely, well-drained soils. May be grown in clay soils as long as drainage is good and soils do not remain wet, it is very adaptable both in acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils, but prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7.5. Repotting: Use pot with good drainage.Feeding: During the beautiful season it’s good to enrich the soil using a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorous, but poor in nitrogen, because this chemical element doesn’t help the development of succulent plants, making them too soft and full of water.Watering Needs: Outdoors little or no water once established, in the green house irrigate regularly from March to October, keep fairly dry in winter, tolerate dry condition but suffer if exposed to prolonged and severe drought. A position at the base of a south-facing wall or somewhere that can be protected from winter rain is best for this plant, but is however resistant to moisture and rain.Sun Exposure: Full sun, in semi shaded position wont produce many flowers.Frost hardiness: They are reasonably cold hardy , tolerating temperatures down to -5° to -15° C (or even less) depending on clone, they are also quite tolerant of winter wet. (In good drained soils)Heat Tolerance: Excellent.Pest & diseases: No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for mealy-bugs.Propagation: Propagated by cuttings of leaf pads at any time in the growing season. (Allow cut surface to callus over before planting).